Hen not leaving coop

[KimbosKluckers]

Hi. We had a stray hen move in a couple months ago. She was healthy, eating, drinking and getting along with everyone else. The last 4-5 days she has refused to leave the coop. On day 2 I went to pick her up and she flew down and ran out with the flock and stayed with them all day foraging etc. No one is bullying her. She went back in that night and again refuses to leave. The last 2 days I’ve been been bringing her food and water. She eats and drinks. She has some dandruff and new pin feathers around her head. I suspect a molt. My question is should I not be delivering food and water and maybe she will come out? Though she didn’t for for a day or two and I worried. Should I attempt to take her out again? Here’s photos, I didn’t think it’s mites as no one else is acting weird and I rubbed the roosts at night to check. Not sure what to do. Sorry for the novel. Thanks for advice.
Edit to add it’s been teens at night and barely reaches 40F during the day. There’s also some snow on the ground. Doesn’t bother the others. However she started this when it was nice and in the 50’s.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sometimes they don't feel well while molting and may hang back or isolate themselves. If she's eating and drinking fine I would just keep putting her out, or feed her separately.

Hopefully after a few weeks she feels better. You can try feeding some higher protein treats to help her grow feathers in like scrambled eggs.

You also may want to quietly watch your flock to see if she's being bullied.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Sometimes they don't feel well while molting and may hang back or isolate themselves. If she's eating and drinking fine I would just keep putting her out, or feed her separately.

Hopefully after a few weeks she feels better. You can try feeding some higher protein treats to help her grow feathers in like scrambled eggs.

You also may want to quietly watch your flock to see if she's being bullied.

Ok she’s been eating her 20% protein pellets and I’ve given a few meal worms. I’ll try eggs too. Tomorrow will be warmer so I’ll try taking her back out then. I’ve not seen any bullying. Just worried as she stays on the roost bar and eats from the poop board above the nests. She never even goes to the floor. I appreciate your suggestions.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Update. She’s now living in my shed Apparently they ARE bullying her. I caught it on camera and it was brutal. She has some superficial wounds that were slightly bleeding. So I don’t know if this means they sense she’s ill or something? The rooster used to protect her, which is why I thought they knew each other (both strays) but he was in on it too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If you decide to move her back out to the coop you may need to set her up a pen, and take it slow. Sometimes them just acting scared will trigger more bullying. Another option is putting pinless peepers on the bullies. It's good you noticed before it went too far. Chickens can be brutal.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

If you decide to move her back out to the coop you may need to set her up a pen, and take it slow. Sometimes them just acting scared will trigger more bullying. Another option is putting pinless peepers on the bullies. It's good you noticed before it went too far. Chickens can be brutal.

I promised her I’d never put her back with them again. I had her out overnight just to watch her eating and drinking and check her walk etc. I felt she was fine and maybe I was being too overprotective so I put her back and that’s when it got brutal. So she’s still in my shed and I’m trying to figure out a way to let her live in my mini pig yard but I’d need to protect her food.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I promised her I’d never put her back with them again. I had her out overnight just to watch her eating and drinking and check her walk etc. I felt she was fine and maybe I was being too overprotective so I put her back and that’s when it got brutal. So she’s still in my shed and I’m trying to figure out a way to let her live in my mini pig yard but I’d need to protect her food.

When I had goats we had fences that the chickens could go over or under, but the goats were too big to fit. Otherwise putting the chickens food up on a platform might work. Not sure how much pigs will try to get stuff to eat.

 

[neo71665]

When I had goats we had fences that the chickens could go over or under, but the goats were too big to fit. Otherwise putting the chickens food up on a platform might work. Not sure how much pigs will try to get stuff to eat.

Hogs will tear up a deer feeder made out of steel to get inside. Pigs are smart and powerful, don't underestimate them.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Well she had her first day and night with the pig. It’s not ideal but works for now. Her crate and food are on top of his house. I taught her to go up and down and she went to bed on her own and got up this morning to forage. My only hope is that she doesn’t over groom the pig. lol. The flock used to be with him but we moved them when they were eating him alive. He lays there and lets them You’ll see below how he is wondering what’s on his roof